LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

ASSEMBLY, No. 1354

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: DECEMBER 14, 2021

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Establishes certain additional examination and special learner’s permit requirements.

Type of Impact:

Increase in annual State costs.

Agencies Affected:

New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission; Department of Law and Public Safety; Department of Education

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Year 1

Year 2 

Year 3

 

State Cost Increase

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that the bill will increase annual State costs to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) by an indeterminate amount.  The MVC will incur upfront costs to develop and print new informational brochures.  To the extent these materials can be developed and produced using in-house expertise, costs to the State will be reduced.  The cost estimate for an initial printing of 500,000 new brochures is about $30,000.

 

·         Ongoing expenses to the MVC will consist of the additional workload for verifying the practice hours necessary under the bill to obtain a probationary driver’s license, including the suspension of driving privileges of fraudulent applicants, as well as additional printings of the informational brochures as necessary.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill adds new examination permit and special learner’s permit requirements. Under the bill, holders of examination permits and special learner’s permits under the age of 21 are required to complete at least 50 hours of practice driving, at least 10 hours of which are to be completed during hours of darkness.  The parent, guardian, or the supervising driver of a permit holder is to certify that these hours of practice driving were completed.  The MVC is to suspend the driving privileges of any permit holder who submits a fraudulent certification.

      The bill provides that the six-hour, behind-the-wheel automobile driving education course required pursuant to the State’s graduated driver licensing law is to be completed through one-on-one instruction.  However, the bill provides that a public, parochial, or private school or a licensed driver’s school may permit additional students in the course or the parents of the students to be present in the rear seat of the vehicle, provided that the time a student spends in the rear seat of the vehicle is not to be considered behind-the-wheel automobile instruction for the purposes of the course.  The bill requires the MVC, in consultation with the Department of Law and Public Safety, the State Department of Education, and licensed drivers’ schools in this State, to adopt standard, up-to-date guidelines to be implemented by public, private, and parochial schools and licensed drivers’ schools offering courses of behind-the-wheel automobile driving education.

       The bill increases from six months to 12 months the amount of time that a permit holder is required to hold a permit before becoming eligible for a probationary license.

       The bill also requires a sample practice driving log, in addition to other required information, to be included in informational brochures distributed to parents and guardians of beginning drivers under the age of 18.

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS finds that the bill will increase annual State costs to the MVC by an indeterminate amount.  The MVC will incur upfront costs to develop and print new informational brochures for parents and guardians of beginning drivers under the age of 18 that include an example of a sample practice driving log.  To the extent these materials can be developed and produced using in-house expertise, costs to the State will be reduced.  

      According to the Census Bureau’s 2010 Census Summary, there were approximately 370,000 New Jersey residents between the ages of 16 and 18 at that time.  To provide all drivers between the ages of 16 and 18 with a new brochure and refill the supply at MVC facilities, a print run of about 500,000 copies will be required. Based on estimates received from commercial printers located in New Jersey, the approximate cost for a print run of 500,000 tri-fold, color brochures with certain specifications is $30,000.

      Although not specifically required by the bill, the MVC may have to update the driver’s manual to include information concerning the newly established guidelines and special learner’s permit requirements.  This update would result in an MVC expenditure increase in the first year after the bill’s effective date.  It is not known at this time how many manuals will need to be printed or to what extent the online manual will need to be updated.

      Ongoing expenses to the MVC will consist of the additional workload for verifying the practice hours necessary under the bill to obtain a probationary driver’s license, including the suspension of driving privileges of fraudulent applicants, as well as additional printings of the informational brochures as necessary.

Section:

Authorities, Utilities, Transportation, and Communications

Analyst:

Jeffrey Layden

Assistant Research Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).